How does a cochlear implant work?

Cochlear implants help people with significant hearing loss. This type of hearing loss occurs when the very tiny hair cells in the inner ear (cochlea) have become too damaged or are completely missing. When this happens, sound — even sound amplified by a hearing aid — cannot be properly delivered to the brain.

See how a Cochlear Implant functions:

A sound processor captures sound with a microphone and then converts it into detailed digital information

These digital signals are sent to the implant, where they are converted into electrical signals.

These signals travel to a tiny electrode array placed inside the cochlea.

The electrode array sends electrical signals directly to the hearing nerve, bypassing damaged cells. These signals are then sent to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound.

The entire process, from capturing sound to processing it in the brain, occurs so rapidly that the user hears sound as it happens. Watch our video below to see how a cochlear implant works: